Before Noirette decided to fight this troll, there were many factors that she had taken into account.
First, there was its uncanny perception.
The Fallacy Cover around Noirette's neck should have rendered her a ghost—existence reduced to a whisper, senses sliding off her like water on oil.
Yet the troll had locked onto her the instant they passed the checkpoint.
That implied high detection capabilities, perhaps honed attributes in perception or intuition far beyond the average brute.
In Fathomi's terms, if it had a Well of the Soul—and it likely did, given its sapient menace—those stats must skew toward on the higher end, maybe even a skill amplifying awareness against stealth.
Second, the lack of visible gear spoke volumes.
Despite demanding Curio Items as toll, the troll itself wore nothing of note—no gleaming artifacts, no rune-etched armor, not even a trinket dangling from its bark-like skin.
